August 19, 2008
Colorful Excerpts from
Purple Hues Enliven Perennial Color
by Linda Miller, Fashion Editor, NewsOK.com
Who knew a color could evoke feelings of dependability and constancy?
That's the power of blue. It's reliable, like the sky.
Unlike sky blue, navy, periwinkle and baby blue, which tend to be eternally popular, the
hue that's gettingmuch of the attention this year is blue iris, a purple-blue that's been named
the color of the year by the Pantone Color Institute.
Insecure times call for a color that's reassuring as well as magical. No ordinary blue will do.
"There's something very sophisticated about it and a little bit mysterious," said Leatrice Eiseman,
executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.
Adding a pinch of purple to blue gives it more interest. It's not just ho-hum navy blue. Purple gives
blue personality, Eiseman said.
While fashion designers embraced this color and other ranges of blue for fall, purple blues also
are popping up in upholstery fabrics, ceramics and glassware, giving the shade even more credibility.
"We know that green is connected to the environment, but so is blue," Eiseman said. "It speaks
about the environment, water and sky without having to be another green."
For those who don't gush about blue, Eiseman suggests giving periwinkle a close look.
"Periwinkle blue is the happiest of all blues," she said.
One thing to remember: Blues tend to have staying power. "It's not the kind of thing you pull out of
your closet and say, 'Oh, that's over.' Blues you usually keep around longer," she said.
The blue blazer is the perfect example. "There's that feeling of dependability about blue," she said.
August 13, 2008
BRITISH VOGUE
Lee's recent interview with Kay Barron
Why do you think that designers have gone for a more unusual sophisticated palette for autumn &
winter? (For example, Halston has chosen unusual combinations including ochres, egg blue, aubergine
and copper and have combined them in a way that they need to be worn together, rather than with the
contrasting black colours we have seen previously.)
I think 'unique' is a key word here. There has been a movement away from 'cookie-cutter' looks, both
in design and in color that has been gaining momentum for several seasons. It really offers women the
opportunity to exercise their creativity - a more 'artistic' approach to fashion and a means of self-expression.
Are soft subtle prints and shades for autumn & winter a big incentive to buy?
I don't know that it is a 'big' incentive to buy, but for those who are of a more practical nature, especially
in unsure financial times, there is a sense that those colors will not look outdated. They are more 'reliable'
and that can provide an incentive to buy. At the same time, the softer palette, especially neutrals can be
accented with more vibrant colors, providing a good background to that touch of brightness.
Do you find certain colours more soothing to work with?
In general, the more soothing colors are those in the cooler range, as in greens, blue-greens, blue-lavenders
and pure whites. Neutrals can also be soothing, as in calming grays or taupes.
Which colours sell the best, in your experience?
One of the reasons that designers often use black is that it is often a color that consumers defer to - it
is not only safe, but it covers many bases - sophisticated, yet practical, trans-seasonal, combines with
many colors and is flattering to the figure. I don't have actual sales figures, but this is what colleagues in
retail report.
How do colours affect sales? Especially for autumn & winter seasons?
Colors always affect sales, since 80% of human perception is based on visual cues, and color is the most vital
part of that 'visual cueing', meaning that whether on display, in a shop window, in an ad or on the web, color
is what captures the eye. And in sales, capturing the eye is all-important.
Are there colours which sell better in summer than in the autumn? Are the colours that are coming through
for autumn & winter unusual for the season?
As a general rule, it is the brighter or lighter colors, including white, of course, that do best in that
season. It is different to see those colors for an autumn & winter season, but again, there has been
a growing movement to making colors more 'trans-seasonal'. For example, a light colored summer
weight jacket could be layered in winter with either a warm cashmere sweater, typically, a fall color
such as russet or aubergine worn under, or winter outerwear worn over it. That satisfies the need for
both the practicality in challenged economic times as well as the uniqueness mentioned above.
Which colours are you attracted to?
Personally I am drawn to Pantone's color of the year and that is Blue Iris. It is a beautiful blue with a
slightly purpled undertone, so it is soothing but a bit magical at the same time.
How do you predict colour trends? What is the process?
There are many things to consider. An awareness of socio-economic issues, such as the economy or
strong social movements that embrace a particular color family (as in green associated with eco-awareness
or Bono's red campaign). The world of art and entertainment, an event that will garner world-wide interest
(as in the Olympics). Even food trends and health issues, travel destinations, buzz words that are starting
to surface (such as 'iconic' last year) as well as lifestyles. But we need to stay ahead of the curve - that is the challenge.
August 8, 2008
More on C O L O R T R E N D S in 2 0 0 8
Excerpts from
Is plum the new black?
Has the green movement spawned a palette?
Written by Jill Connors from Pointclickhome
in which our very own colorful expert is featured.
Liberty
Color trends come and go, but one constant remains: Color is the most powerful element in home
decorating. It can excite, relax, inspire and delight. The "it" colors today do all those things and more.
Plum is the New Black
"People always love blues and greens," notes color expert Leatrice Eiseman,
"but what’s especially new is that blue is also taking on more of a purple tone." The Pantone color
"Liberty," for example, is blue like the blue in an iris and that Eiseman says is one of the hottest colors
right now, because the color’s move to purple gives it a more meditative mood.
Solar Yellow
Another top color trend is inspired by the power of the sun and our eco-conscious
mentality. "The warm colors connote energy," says Eiseman, who created a "Solar Energy" palette
for Pantone that includes vibrant yellows and oranges. An interesting juxtaposition to the hot hues
is the use of grays.
Personal Style
More than anything, color choice is all about personal style. "There’s never just one
hot color," says Eiseman. "People surround themselves with the colors that suit their lifestyle and
their moods."
Oceanic Palette
This palette of blues and greens, created for Pantone by Leatrice Eiseman, is perfect for creating
a place of respite and relaxation. “It is a given that cool tones inspire us." The palette, named “Breathe
Easy,” includes sky blues, watery blue-greens, and a deep-ocean blue, as well as yellow-greens and a
blue-purple.
Solar Palette
“This palette captures the dynamic power inherent in the sun, depicting the rays of color that
have come to symbolize an alternative to fossil fuels,” says Eiseman who created the dazzling
palette called “Solar Energy” for Pantone. It includes variations of Mandarin and Flame Orange,
Gold and green-based yellows, with an interesting dimension added by Purplish Wine, Fuchsia
Red, Electric Blue and Ashy Gray.
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W e f o u n d a n o t h e r c o l o r t i d b i t o n t h i s s h a d e . . . .
THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE
Can’t we all agree on something?
If it’s purple, yes.
As found in Fashion & Style's Front Row in the New York Times July 31, 2008
In a Divisive Campaign, Purple Becomes the New Neutral
By ERIC WILSON
CABLE news networks may never agree which program is fairer and more balanced, which talking
head is the puppet of whose talking points, whether John McCain, in his latest advertisement, was
undignified or whether Barack Obama, on his European tour, was presumptuous. But on one crucial
point, the pundits have surprisingly taken the same position.
Purple is in.
Keith Olbermann, the commentator on MSNBC, has worn solid pale purple ties twice in the last
week. And on Tuesday, he wore another one with purple stripes. Lester Holt, the weekend anchor
of NBC Nightly News, appeared on camera in a more vibrant shade, approaching magenta. Over on
Fox News, pretty much the polar opposite on the political spectrum, Bill O’Reilly was in shiny grape,
and Kelly Wright, an anchor of “Fox and Friends Weekend,” showed that purple is bipartisan.
Is a color that represents the middle ground between Republican Red and Democratic Blue a sartorial
statement of objectivity?
“Purple is the new neutral,” said Jim Moore, the creative director of GQ, who was making a point with
two meanings. A silvery shade of purple happens to be in vogue at the moment because it goes with a
lot of the gray fabrics of the season. But in this election, the news media’s objectivity has also been
part of the story, with complaints that the press is alternatively too soft on Mr. McCain or Mr. Obama.
So rather than risk the appearance of favoritism by wearing red or blue, the press has gone purple.
This is not an isolated trend, as the list goes on. In the last week, Charles Gibson, George
Stephanopoulos, Al Roker, Michael Reagan, Jay Leno (while introducing an “Obama Mia!” sketch),
Jim Hoagland of The Washington Post and Jim Lehrer have worn variants of the plum cravat, plus
a pocket square in Mr. Roker’s case. Even Brian Williams, not a big fan of the style pages, wore a tie
that could be described as a soft periwinkle for his interview with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
“I’m surprised to see it on so many people throughout this whole political season,” said Tommy
Fazio, the men’s fashion director at Bergdorf Goodman. “There are other ways of not being partisan.”
July 21, 2008
WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL CYBERSPACE COLOR(S)?
An excerpt from an article found in the New York Time Magazine describing a digital personalization - a trend in
culture today.
The Medium
Personalize This
By VIRGINIA HEFFERNAN
Recently I joined a small, anonymous online community and found myself confronted by a
deeply pleasurable array of choices. What color, on a spectrum (or what passes for a spectrum
in digital media), did I want for the background of my personal page? How considerate. “Dusty
blue,” I thought, with the high-handed decisiveness of Diane von Furstenberg or Dolce, “but
more blue than dust.” I skidded around on the color wheel — too dark, too light, too purple, too
black — settling on a shade that made me think of a dark blue Mexican sky.
Oh, but I was just getting started. For the lettering, I selected a pale green, like a mint Nicorette.
I made the menu bars dark rainy blue-black. I also had the choice to upload a photo for about
half an inch around the central page. I skimmed through my photo archive, reminiscing. This
took 45 minutes. Finally a snapshot dominated by a large exercise ball stood out. The ball was
dark green, and I cropped the photo till all you saw was the green rubber sphere, which had the
texture and dimension of a blown-up balloon, stretched thin in some parts. The picture, plugged
into the page-design software, worked perfectly as a border; you would have no idea it was a ball.
Brilliant design. I messed around with more borders and then with the fonts, settling on two that
(I believed) were fresh and unexpected but didn’t sacrifice legibility.
In four hours, this corner of cyberspace was thoroughly personalized.
Do you know your Personal Signature Colors?
Click on Lee’s book More Alive With Color to learn more.
